What's all this FENSA b******s about?????

I normally lurk around in the sparky's forum as that's more my area of interest, but i've heard a few things that worry me slightly.
Mainly that only FENSA people are allowed to fit replacement windows now. I used to work as a bench joiner, and have made and fitted all my own hardwood windows. Building control did not seem to have any problem with this.
Is there any truth in this? If there is, it's a load of b****s!!!! The only possible time I can see there being any problem with anybody fitting a window is if they make the opening wider and leave the lintel sat on nothing, or fit a replacement lintel that's not big enough. Seeing as I'm probably better qualified than most FENSA people to do the structural calcs on the lintel, this seems a bit silly.

One other thing just came to mind. If you rip out a timber window that was load bearing and replace it with a crappy plastic one that's about as structural as a blancmange as supplied by most FENSA people, you could have big problems! Again, not a problem I will ever have. If I ever fit a plastic window, I will claim deminished responsibility due to insanity!

I almost forgot ventilation (frame vents too). Although I believe that the wording is that in some respects the replacement windows should be no worse. You need to speak to your local building control officier because they vary in what they insist on.

You do not have to be FENSA registered to fit replacement windows. You can do it yourself and pay your local council (approx £65) who will do a site survey, give advice before you install, and then come back to ensure you have carried out the work in accordance with current regulations. Once you have paid the money the council will come back as necessary so you can fit replacements at your own leisure and have them checked as you go along.

Upon completion the council will issue you with a certificate confirming conformance. This certificate should then be placed with the deeds of the house, as when you come to sell you will have to evidence you have met the regulations. Without it you can guarantee your buyers surveyor will knock the work and attempt to use it as a bargaining tool to reduce the house price.

Ah, so much the same as part P that's about to be dumped on the sparkys. Current project is a barn conversion, so have to have building regs cert on the whole lot anyway. Just need to convince them that the fee I paid them a couple of years ago included any inspections they now have to do

2 friging rite,count me in, all these idiots only want 2 make lots of money(goverment included) and wot skills do these paper pushers av NONE,NOTHING,PARASITES.
icant belive this once great country puts up with this rubbish.

You are right FENSA is a load of B****S.
A couple of weeks ago I was helping a mate, who is FENSA registered do a whole house window replacement and also all roofline replacement.
FENSA had contacted my mate to find out where he was working in order for them to come and do a spot check. However the FENSA rep turned up a day early, because he was in the area, and we had not started on the windows.
"No problem" says the FENSA rep "I only need to check the glass anyway"
So he gets his meter out and checks that the glass on the van is Pilkington K.
Wasn't at all bothered about the windows. ie fire escape hinges, toughened glass etc.
Oh no as long as it was PILKINGTON K he was happy.

Not that there is any exchanges of brown paper bags on Sainsburys car park, stuffed full of £50 pound notes, between Pilkington and FENSA.

I'd be interested in joining Pugley's splinter group, except that under Part W splinters will only be allowed if they are pre-approved by BCO and big enough to cause enough pain to enable you to sue the client for negligence in allowing you to use dangerous wood. I w<u>oo</u>dn't want to do that to any of my nice customers.